Police say teen shot, killed best friend by mistake

PUYALLUP, Wash. - Police said a 13-year-old accidentally shot and killed his best friend Thursday afternoon in Puyallup.

The Pierce County Medical Examiner identified the victim as 13-year-old Eddie Holmes. Family members say he went by the name Eddie Zee Holmes.

Investigators said the teenagers stopped at a friend's house after school.

Puyallup police said the teen who lives at the house went into the master bedroom, brought out a shotgun and showed it to his friends.

"One of the juveniles took the shotgun. It appears he didn't believe it was real and fired the shotgun at another juvenile, striking him in the chest," said Capt. Scott Engle with the Puyallup Police Department.

Investigators said one teen tried to give his friend first aid while the teenager who shot the boy went for help. Two other teens ran.

Neighbor Carol Sharick said she heard a teen outside screaming just after 3 p.m.

"He rocked back and forth and was saying, 'I shot my best friend'. And I thought, 'Oh, my gosh,'" said Sharick. "It's just devastating. My heart just goes out to them. I can't believe it happened right next door."

Emergency crews transported Holmes to Tacoma General Hospital where he later died.

Police interviewed the teens. Detectives said the shotgun was not secured in the house and the teen believed it wasn't a real weapon.

According to investigators, the teenagers are cooperating, and the two teens who left the house after the shooting were easy to track down.

Though police are calling it an unintentional shooting, they arrested a 13-year-old on charges of first-degree manslaughter. He was booked into Remann Hall in Tacoma and is expected to have a court appearance Friday.